Former Mexican Goalkeeper Charged in $5.4M Watch Scheme

Former Mexican professional goalkeeper Pedro Hernandez-Calderon, 45, has been charged in federal court with trafficking counterfeit luxury watches and remains in custody pending further proceedings. Prosecutors allege he ran an import-export business that received counterfeit watches in Laredo, Texas, and shipped them to customers in Mexico. The investigation followed the seizure of four watches in Anchorage, Alaska, on Oct. 5; authorities say they identified additional shipments and records, communications and photographs documenting the alleged operation. The watches would have had an estimated retail value of about $5.4 million if genuine, and luxury watchmakers confirmed samples were counterfeit. If convicted, Hernandez-Calderon faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $2 million fine; the complaint is an accusation, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.